Transfer mechanism for cigar machines



Nov. 16, 1943. s. cLAusEN TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR CIGAR MACHINES AUSEN INVENTOR S IG URD CL MM ATTORNEY mmmmw.. i

Filed June 6, 1941 impossible ior.

` and.. merel especially srnelll lbunehes. in: which. a

mechanism -Wthouiunneeesse 11F.

` hunehes rwith..oui:,.-c1e1negeL thenetef.

Patented Nov. 16, 1943 -I Sigurd. Clausen,

vernapional 'Cigar poration off-New Jersey .-Anniiemmxune'e, ieinserieLNa. 396,846. Y e e reclaim. (clf. 1er- 82) l i.

invention. freie-tes;mfcigarsmachnes and more cparticularlyito'. improvements ine Grens/.felis and".l devices. associated# therewith; for; handling bunches..and: .delivering .them to. a bunch. Wrapping unit 'in` proper I position; :for Wrapping. with aminimum of.; breakage.; y.

This inventonelserelates to improvements .in mechanismafor handling: .oigan vbunches in such a, wifey.l .that leven the .very smallest; and 'softest bunchesfwillnot be rdamagedswhen. removedl from a. bunchV shapingdeviee and piaceri in.a..b1mnh transfer for. transportation, to; another Vpaire.` of themachine. f i Y vIn.some"snpes: of reiger machines now.- in useit has been possible to use bunches asthelmeans .fon :effecting the closure of they.. transfer.` .gripper .javsrsnipori-v a. bunchfwhenv ejected` from; the bunch shaping mechanism.- I-mifever,` `bunches.are quite: smaila' in` cliiemeterl or soft; itvi's lrelatisnely the bunch; tofaaet as. the `rneiurn f or Aoperating the transfer Igripperfiawvs andfhence under. suh conditions. .the :bunch: either will. not

,be grimzied;` and heldyhygthe transfer or. it.:;wi11;b.e

bedlyf distorted and even braken` 'if itis moved witmsueient .force againsttheitransfer; gripper operating. Ineens to cause the; gripper. jaws.. tp close. and. hnlelfo'he.; eigen hunehi Accordingiyfit isanlebiect; xii-.mea .ventina te 'provide-improved mechanism'. fait. Lefiecat-imi: removal, cir-.shaped bnnnhesf of; enV-fsize-rfromi hunch; shaping. meenam aheher part of. theamachnewithuuii empleying the. bunch-.asihe transfer iewscclosing medimn. In thegmenuaeiune nf-.shore filler cigar bunches `.35 relatively small quantity of; tabacco: isgxisedin making a bunch, in hesrbeemiound; manine articles formed; .-whemrhis quentiwY of. 4'arobzaieoons diedi-Within@ hihderzend shaped v13.0mannen-rsize are.; likely. to befiteletively herdlimhenelewith `the. neiiesuit. thetnit: i-s.difliculhfm.. remore-this ef. Shapedehunch-fremvthe fiorininesmeehe- .'sm.. Werding my.iinyeniien. howeyenl haveprpvidediimerered mechanism .whieh mer-l etesfin... such. a .way that. shaped;- bunehee. erezde- /iiveredi satisfactorily remirthe shaping; maids into` e bunch 'tmnsien f forrdeliveryvta manning distortingfrthe buneh sei? fermine; Seit Sectas therein .er Veffulsin-e its binder to be split or broken during the preess :offremovinglit from tiiesllepingmeldey Therefore, it is a. further object of my inyentin. to provide. impreyed meehanism fen-effecting. the transfer-eis small. eapid.v glimpyiear; er eherieet mechanism. for; .Opereine l eriipeii System-I kNIACHINES 'BrodldyrmN Y., assigner to 'Ine Maichinery Company, *a icon- It isemeded object @my inventieriftqeiovide impovedmeehanism for, positively eieetinefemell emi.. 'easily `disierieilele Giger. A:lirici/0.11flheimiii bunches fr-.Qm bunch. Shaeingmelds. er. ihelike, and. depesiiine, them-in e bunehfirehsfen fendeliveryf-ifefwrapping, stationiwhere .Wraepers are tefferm cigars or` cherepis.

cross sedtion. due nrinil'fily ,quantities ef. iebee .inf

articles-a ef: this. Wile- My .invention is rerum-.2 qhereterizefby-ene provision; Qfxneems` @Cantina with. bunch .lei ecting a; .bunch merisier bunches; pesitionedin. ythe erinnere-regardless. -0i their size'fdiameier. 0.1 densits. l..

My invention also .consists inthe provisiqoj mechanism. coachingI with eny endless. conveyer,

preferablyla! tunen nrovided. with lapliiralitx of `hunch shaping;-moldsipreieeting bimehes there.- r

1iis. wedded, ob' et. ormximfemiofn. mereejeepor, for. operatingi :abiinehk wensten iii:` ander 12.0 insure thatzbunehes eenxfsize, diameter and venism of thesis-er. mehineteother; 'bunch Vhandlinginstniimentajlities.

. with. these. fand oth f: objecis-notpeeielly mentioned in .View the inyentin.ensistsginecer- -teinaeombnetione and,eensi .r1`iiine Wlhicmwill .-densitmwiilibe,delixaered f eemthe shaping-meehz `In `ehe. eccellereens'iiie` -drewinemliich-ermsfe Daztmgvthis, speoieatiom andiwherei he. sev-- eral; reieifexiee;l characters designatefine.; saine. er

like elements.; l.

` Eigenei.is.aniend viewifremgenefiefs@Figure y z shewing, e.eisar.-. hunch; about..to.fhe .eripneldfhy the: transfer. fingers. after: having; beenl eier-sed irene;.the'11.10.161i.of:ai-.hurlehSherrill@turret;v r

' upon.

in mold pockets I2 'the gripper fingers 21, 29 of' the Acause them to'close about abunch.

Figure 2 is a side elevationpartly in section l the construction of the transfer fingers;

Figure 5-is aflongitudinal elevation partially in crossfsection 'of thentransfer finger construe# tion shown in Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is an end view similar to Figure 3 showing the bunch fully ejected from the shaping mold with the transfer fingers closed-there- Referring to the drawing, it will be seen that I have shown a preferredformpf'my invention as it may be applied to a cigar machine ofthe general type disclosed in Wheeler patent, No.l 2,157,537, granted May 9, 1939in which short ller bunches after being rolled and enveloped inra binder are placed manually by the operator A v of an endless conveyor, such 'as Aturret IIJv for molding `and shaping.V `Mold :covers (not shown) are placed over each loaded pocket and Aaftery each pocket has traveled through one complete revolution of the turret, during which time each bunch has been properly seatedA in its respective pocket,I trimmed and Y jshaped,the` moldcover is removed by mechanism (notshown) andthe shaped bunch B is ready for ejection from its pocket I2 and delivery into a transfer device for delivery to other cigar making instrumentalitles of the machine, such as the bunch wrapping station where a wrapper is'applied about the bunch. In the illustration the axial position o'f-thebunch B in the bunch shaping mold'l'2 `is assumed *to be located at right angles to the position it will take when deposited in thewrappingmachine. .It is, therefore, necessary while transferring-the bunch to rotate -it190 .degrees beforeit reaches the wrapping mecha'- nisrn; l i l ejector bracket VI4, slidably mounted relative to turret IIljhas a cam followerjl engaging Va cam track I8 of arotating cam disk 20. lAs cam disk vrotates;jc am follower I6 ridesVin-'cam track I8'and at the proper'time during the stepwise movement of turretl Il causes` ejector bracket I4 vtor rise, vand ejector pins -22 mounted-on plate Mfengage the under surface of the bunch B in 4thepocket then positioned for coactionV with the i ejectonmove radially voutwardthrough holes 2I in the pocket I2'and eject the 'bunchtherefrom This mechanism maybe of the same general construction as' hat vjshown in vthe abovevl referred to WheelerPatent No. 2,157,537.

' In Figurev 2the transferjmec'hanism is shown in position to pick up the bunch butthefejector pins have not yet completed theirmotion to lift the bunch high enough to 'locate the bunch 1n The construction vofkk the` gripper fingers is shown inFiguresjl -and'5. To a sleeve 26 are attached two hingepins 28 on'which are pivoted twoL arms 38"an'd32 having lugs 3| and 33,16-

spectively,mou'nting gripper'jawsiZ'I and 29,r respectively, interconnected by toggle links 34 and (see Figure `1) A screw 23 secures jaw 2l' to lug "-3I." Aset'screw 25 and vnutffil `securezjaw 23 to lug 331 f Screw however, extends through lug 33 and abutsag'ainst a face 'of lug 3| to limit 'transfer and top of the ejector bracket 4ings 50 and 52 on the frame 54 of the machine `'adjacent the ends offdrum 415 rdead center, the springs I0. As the ejector bracket I4 completes its upward motion, pin 44 moves upwardly'against lever 46 causing shaft 48 to rotate. An arm 55 also attached to shaft 48 will swing, press against hinge .pin or trigger 42, and cause toggle links 34 and 35 to break the toggle so that after passing a distance beyond the 53 in'sleeve 26 acting'v on 32 by means'of pins 3l o'f. arms 38, 32 which the gripper arms30 and bearing against faces 39 will cause the ngers121, 29 to close about the bunch B (as shown in Figures ,4 and 6). `In this way cigar bunches which are soft, or of ksmall diameter, can be successfully removedl fromV bunch shaping mechanism, locatedin a transfer and heldirmly therein for Adelivery to other cigar forming mechanism without damage to the bunches, or subjecting them to unusual strains and distortions in effecting their transport.' The the movementofvjaws-l2fl'fand'29 towardseach 75 the ratio betweenv the two t 'y being so proportionedthat as the transfer armi!) transfer mechanism is now ready to operate by transferring the bunch B to the wrapping unit (not shown);

The mechanism which moves the transfer-from bunchV receiving to. discharge 'position may be similar to that shownin co-pending .Wheeler application, Serial No. 183,405 filed January 5,' 1938 for High-speed cigar machines; A gear rack'SU, whichv meshes .withva gear 62, isconnected to the drive of the machine (not shown)l and given a reciprocating motion in` order' to rotategear 62 first inV one'direction and then lin therev'erse.

Gear 62lis secured to one end of afshaft 6 Iwhich is journalled in bearings in abracketwhichis fastened to the bed of the machine (not shown). The other end of shaft 6 I 'is' attached tothe hub heldV stationary in'bracket 66.VV A miter gearl 'I4`,secured to a shaft '16, meshes with miter gear 12.1 A'lniter .gear 'I8 attached to the other' end'o'f'sha'ft I6 meshes with a miter gear secured to al shaft 82, which is ljournalled inan angular vextension 84 of. transfer arm 70. 'V V Shaft 82` passes through the hub ofabevel gear 86which` is held'from rotating by aclamp 1 screw\88,.b`evel gear 86 lthusacting as a'nouter bearing for shaft82. 'Beyond bevel gear 86, shaft -82 is formed into a clamp to-Which is secured a pendantv sleeve` 9B provided with a "flange'at vits lower end to support the sleeve 26 ofthe gripper unit. To the upper end of sleeve 2'6is attached a bevel 'gear 92 whichvmeshes with-bevel'gear86, bevel gears 8 6 and 92 performs its stroke, gear 92 `w`ill-roll "onv clamped gear 86 and thu's'r'otate th'eg'ripperunit '90 degrees. l l* j The operation of -the" transfergmechani'sm s as followsr"y 'd y The gear`rack 60 on its downward stroke, 'rotates gear 62 and'shaftllYr` and with 'it transfer arm 70. As arm V'I0 swings, gear 'I4 rolls on sta'- Y 'tionarygear izfandthrougn gear 18,'"which meshes with miterwgear 80. on i 'tioned The gripper4 Vunit gripper 'operating stem. causing the .toggle links- `(not shown) `ier `the particular device,

the 'A-invention, is vbut one oi-many possible con- -creteiembodiments ofthe same, It is not, therefases; 1ra

shaft 82. Shaft B2 will thus berotated: an 'equal angular `amount,`though .in` the. opposite. direcftion, to thefrotation of shaft-1li Thelgripp'er unit will,:ther'efore,

larA during the entire. swing. of.

maintain its vaxis perpendicuiil. As airesult of this arrangementl the-bevel .gear 921s. compelled lt'o5roll on 'stationary bevel gear .S6 and 4their/ratio beinglp'roperly proporwilllb'e rotated,"90. "degreesi'n lthe horizontal plane during.y the. transfer period.

As. before mentioned, at the arrival: of; the transferA at thelwrapping station (not shown), armli will contact astop'pin. (not shown)` and 38.1 will bel forced` dow-n Y 34' and 3.6:-to :spread` the :fingers 3 and? 32 apart, thus: releasing 4the bunch B in the wrapping rollers of the wrapper unit n The` transfer.- unit then.v returns with gripperiingersppen, readyto. receive the next bunch;

The invention above-describedmayfbe varied in construction. 'withinthefy scope of the claims,

fore, to be restricted-'to the precise details offthe :structure shown and` described.

What -isA claimed is: ll. In a 'cigar` machineprovided; with-1a plurality ofemo'ld pockets Yfor having al mold 'tur-ret the. transfer.` arm selected to villustrate shaping cigarbunches, and an ejector for ejecti ing shaped bunches from said pockets, a bunch jacent saidf device ande 4f. In. a .cigarlmac ne...having abunch. .f-ereprovided,Y withbunch holding grippersga fcon.-

'veyor' andi bunch shaping moldr pockets mounted -onsaid conveyor, an; ejector "for ejectingshaped bunches :from said pockets` and` locating thennin :said: bunch transfer, meansf machine and` operated by said ejector forfoperating. said; `grippersto 'close about 'andifhold said ejected bunches, said` ejector,'comprisingaJ movable.. suppoit,` a plurality; 'of bunch. engaging ejecting pins carried by.` said support, a gripper operatingrod .also .carredby saidejectona shaft mounted '.above. said" conveyor, aj lever carried by saidzshaft, `'and engageableby said rod, and a gripper cperating.- trip mounted. on` said shaft..

5;'. BunchV transfer mechanism.forl a. cigar machine `having fan' endless conveyor.. provided `with a pluralityiof shaping-molds comprising, anejector for removing shapedbunches. from said.molds,

a bunchtransfer,providedi with oppositely disposedfgrippers-positionedrto receive said ejected bunches, a gripper closing rod projecting outwardly .from said grippers, and means carried'v by Asaid ejector for moving-"said: rod. to closeH said grippers onLfa Vbunch positionedltherein.

AG. .A bunch'` transferl `for a cigar-machine-havl ing a bunchv shaping device, a shaft'lo'catedY adextendinglengthwise thereof, a tripmem-bercarr-ied by saidfshaft, a lbunch ejector, Ila tr-iplever-'also carried: by. said shaft, and a rod-carried by saidr ejector coacting A with` said leverJ lforAmoving-saidi lever tof-cause transfer, means for positioning said transfer adjacent said turret for receiving bunches from said pockets, oppositely disposed transfer, means normally holding said grippers open for reception of bunches, a gripper closing element associated with said grippers, and

means'on said ejector coacting with said element for closing said grippers upon a bunch positioned therein by said ejector while maintaining said bunch free of engagement with said means normally holding said grippers open.

' 2. In a cigar machine having a ulating device and a bunch transferV comprising a pair of opposed gripping jaws, means for moving said transfer to and from said device for receiving a bunch after manipulation and delivering it therefrom, means normally holding said jaws open to receive a bunch therebetween, a jaw closing trigger carried by said transfer, a trip mounted on said devicevand constructed and arranged to engage said trigger, and mechanism for moving said tripfinto operative engagement with said trigger to effect the closure of said jaws upon a bunch positioned therebetween.

3. In a cigar machine having a, bunch' transfer comprising a pair of opposed gripping jaws and a bunch manipulating device, means for moving said transfer to and from said. device for receiving a bunch after manipulation and delivering it therefrom,r means normally holding said jaws open to receive a bunch therebetween, a jaw closing trigger carried by said transfer, a trip engaging said positioned in said jaws for moving said trip into operative engagement with said trigger, said mechanism including a pin adjacent one end of saiddevice, a trip shaft extending longitudinally of said device, and a levermounted on said shaft for engagement by said pin to move said trip,

grippers on said` bunch maniparm, oppositely disposed trigger as a bunch 4becomes for closing said jaws onV said bunch, mechanism said transfer to retain bunches removed from said device and delivered thereto by said ejector.

7. Cigar bunch handling means for a vcigar machine 'provided with a turret havinga plurality of mold pockets comprising a bunch transfer having oppositely disposed grippers located above said molds, means normally holding said grippers open for reception of bunches, a gripper closing trigger connected to said means, a bunch ejector for removing bunches from said molds and positioning them in said grippers, and a trip carried by said ejector for operating said trigger to close said grippers on a bunch.

8. In a cigar bunch transfer having a transfer bunch grippers on said arm, means for swinging said arm into position to grip and hold a bunch between said grippers,

a toggle connecting said grippers, a trip for opening saidgrippers to receive a bunch, a trigger secured to said toggle, a device for positioning a bunch between said grippers, andmeans operated by said device and cooperating with said trigger to effect the closing of said grippers on said bunch solelythrough the coaction of said last named means and said trigger.

9. In a cigar bunch transfer having a transfer arm, oppositely disposed bunch gripperson said` arm, means for swinging said arm into position to grip and hold a bunch between said grippers,

a toggle connecting said grippers, a trip for'open-` ing said grippers trigger to effect the closing of said grippers on said bunch solely through the coaction of said last-named means and said trigger.

10. In a cigar bunch transfer having a transfer arm, oppositely disposed bunch grippers on said arm, means for swinging said arm into position mounted on; said gagev said trigger to grip and` hold a bunch between said grippers, a toggle connecting said grippers, atrip'for opening' said` grippers ktoreceive a bunch, a trigger secured to said toggle, a bunchrshaping device,

an ejector for. removing shaped'y bunches from said device, and transfer gripper closing mechanism operative bvmovernent of said ejector'for operating'. saidtrigger to close said grippers` on a'bunch.

V11. In a cigar-.bunch transfer having a transfer arm, oppositely disposed bunch grippers on said arm, means'for swinging said arm into position to grip and-hold a bunch between said grippers, a toggle connecting said grippers, a trip for opening said grippers to receive a bunch, a trigger secured to Asaid toggle, Aa bunch shaping device, an ejectorV for removing shaped bunches from said device, and transfer gripper closing mechanism operative by rmovement of said ejector for moving said trigger to close Vsaid grippers on a bunch,i including a second trip` arranged .to en- When a, bunch is to be conveyed from said device for closing said grippers on saidbunch. 1

12.'A bunch transfer for cigar machines' having bunch shaping devices, an ejectorv operative to remove shapedbunches from said devices, means for positioning said transfer for receiving bunches discharged from said devices, oppositel ldisposed gripping jaws carried-by said transfer, a toggle for holding ,saidjaws open ,to receive vbunches positioned thereima jaw closing trigger vcarriedby said toggle, tripimeans mounted on said ejector, and connections between said trip ment ofl said ejector. f 13; A .bunch transfer fora cigar machine hav,

device, oppositely disposed gripping jaws carried by lsaid transfenwa togglekfor holding said jaws 'openI to receive bunchesl vdelivered thereinto by said ejector, a toggle upsetting member fixed to vsaid toggle, supports positioned adjacent thev ends of said device, a shaft mounted in said supports, an arm mounted ,on said shaft for engagement with said member, alever also mounted onl said shaft, and means mounted on said ejector and engageable with said lever for movingisaid arm to operate said member and effect the closure on a bunch positioned therebetween by said ejector. Y p n 14. In a cigar machine having a bunch transfer and a device for shaping cigar bunches, an ejector for ejecting shaped bunches from said device and depositing them in said bunch transfer, ksaid ejector comprising a support, a transfer operating trip carried extending lengthwise mounted` on said shaft gaged by said trip, also mounted on saidsshaft, and means engaged of said device, a lever rand arranged to be enby said element during ejectionmovement of4 said ejector for operating said transfer to hold a bunch positioned therein by said ejector.

Y i f .A v SIGURD CLAUSEN.

ling-a bunch shaping device, an ejector operative to remove shapedbunches from said device, means rifor positioning said transfer above-said by said support, a shafty a transfer operating elementv 

